The Sponge Population of the Cabrera Archipelago (Balearic Islands): Characteristics, Distribution, and Abundance of the Most Representative Species

Abstract. The abundance, distribution, and species richness of the littoral sponges (0–55 m) from the Cabrera Archipelago (Balearic Islands) were studied along light gradients from the surface to the sea bottom and from cave mouths to their inner parts. A total of 98 species (11 Calcarea and 87 Demospongiae ) were recorded, 8 of which are new records for the Spanish coast.
Cluster and correspondence analyses enabled the identification of a sciophilous sponge group including three subgroups: sponges found only in semi-dark cave habitats, a subgroup common to the coralligenous, precoralligenous, and semi-dark cave biocoenoses, and a third subgroup exclusive to the coralligenous biocoenosis. A small number of photophilic species and other species having a wide bathymetric distribution made up another separate group. No species clusters for the different semi-sciophilous (either fleshy or carbonate) or photophilic seaweed communities were discernible. The number of sponge species was negatively correlated with the irradiance level.     

Generation of small-scale turbulence in the Antarctic circumpolar current

A functional connection between probability of turbulence generation by shear instability in current velocity and Väisälä-Brunt frequency is obtained. Examples are cited of sections with isoclines of probable turbulence generation in the 30–500-m layer in the Antarctic circumpolar current north of Kergelen island.UDK [551.465.15+551.46.08] (269)     

Effects of ship motion on a neutrally-stable towed fish

Digital computer simulation in two dimensions of a neutrally-stable fish towed on a faired cable has been used to investigate the response of the fish to disturbances in the ship motion. The numerical methods used are described broadly, excluding mathematical detail, and selected results are presented which indicate typical behaviour of the system.The free oscillations of the fish-cable system and its response to deterministic and random ship disturbances are investigated. This reveals the dynamic principles governing the motion and allows the formulation of simple rules to give a first approximation to the magnitude of the fish response. It is shown that, provided resonances of the ship and fish-cable system do not coincide, the overall amplitude of motion of the fish is proportional to the sine of the angle made by the top of the cable with the horizontal. Formulae are given for calculating approximately the resonant frequencies of the towed system.     

An experimental study of elastohydrodynamics of towed flexible cylinders aided by video image processing

Experimental studies of the elastohydrodynamics of towed flexible cylinders aided by video image processing are reported. A scale model of a prototype hydrophone array has been designed, fabricated, and tested in a speed range of 1.0 to 4.5 m/sec. The experiments were conducted in a 67-m long towing tank. The instrumented flexible member, 12.7 mm in diameter and 13.55 m long, was fixed at the one end and free at the other and was slightly lighter than neutrally bouyant. Three tail drogue configurations were employed. An integral part of the physical model tests was the development and utilization of a microcomputer based video image processing system for model configuration reconstitution. Instability characteristics, tail acceleration spectral densities, lift force due to curvature, and drag coefficients are quantified and discussed.     

Investigation of a eutrophic tidal basin: part 1—factors affecting the distribution and biomass of macroalgae

The distribution and biomass of macroalgae, principally Enteromorpha spp., have been estimated in Langstone Harbour, a 19 km² tidal basin in southenrn England. Comprehensive mapping was carried out annually at the time of maximum biomass and monthly mapping of selected areas allowed seasonal changes to be studied. Aerial false-colour photography and ground-level mapping were used for assessing the area and density of cover of macroalgae, but have identified no continuous trends between 1973 and 1982. In nine years, some 48% of the intertidal mudflat has supported >75% macroalgal cover at some stage, but generally only one-third of this potential has been achieved annually. The average peak biomass was determined by a stratified sampling method and varied about a mean of 38.5 g dry weight per square metre and showed significant annual differences. The processes controlling macroalgal growth and distribution reviewed, but, in general, factors other than nutrient availability are effective in determining areas supporting high macroalgal cover in any particular year.     

Trends in the solubility of iron,aluminium, manganese and phosphorus in aerosol collected over the Atlantic Ocean

The solubility of iron, aluminium, manganese and phosphorus has been determined in aerosol samples collected between 49°N and 52°S during three cruises conducted in the Atlantic Ocean as part of the European Union funded IRONAGES programme. Solubilities (defined at pH 4.7) determined for Fe and Al in samples of Saharan dust were significantly lower (medians 1.7% and 3.0%, respectively) than the solubilities of these metals in aerosols from other source regions (whole dataset medians 5.2% and 9.0%, respectively). Mn solubility also varied with aerosol source, but the median solubility of Mn in Saharan dust was very similar to the median for the dataset as a whole (55% and 56%, respectively). The observed solubility of aerosol P was ∼ 32%, with P solubility in Saharan aerosol perhaps as low as 10%. Laboratory studies have indicated that aerosol Fe solubility is enhanced by acid processing. No relationship could be found between Fe solubility and the concentrations of acid species (non-seasalt SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻) nor the net acidity of the aerosol, so we are unable to confirm that this process is significant in the atmosphere. In terms of the supply of soluble Fe to oceanic ecosystems on a global scale, the observed higher solubility for Fe in non-Saharan aerosols is probably not significant because the Sahara is easily the dominant source of Fe to the Atlantic. On a smaller scale however, higher solubility for aerosol Fe may alter our understanding of Fe cycling in regions such as the remote Southern Ocean.     

Experimental study of the breaking limit of multi-directional random waves passing over an impermeable submerged breakwater

This study investigates experimentally the breaking wave height of multi-directional random waves passing over an impermeable submerged breakwater. Experiments have been conducted in a three-dimensional wave basin equipped with a multi-directional random wave generator. A special type of wave gauge has been newly devised to record the water surface elevations in the breaker zone as accurately as possible. The records are analyzed to estimate the location and limit of wave breaking. Comparisons have also been made with the results of regular waves. The influence of the incident wave conditions on the breaking wave height normalized by the breakwater dimensions has been investigated. Empirical formulae have been presented to estimate the breaking limit of multi-directional random waves based on the experimental records. The formulae have been tested and found to work well not only for multi-directional random waves, but for regular waves as well.